VARIOUS PARTS OF NATURE 325 



all the writers : yet from its formation seems to be poorly qualified 

 for migration ; for its wings are short, and placed so forward, and 

 out of the centre of gravity, that it flies in a very heavy and 

 embarrassed manner, with its legs hanging down ; and can hardly 

 be sprung a second time, as it runs very fast, and seems to depend 

 more on the swiftness of its feet than on its flying. 



When we came to draw it, we found the entrails so soft and 

 tender, that in appearance they might have been dressed like 

 the ropes of a woodcock. The craw or crop was small and lank, 

 containing a mucus ; the gizzard thick and strong, and filled 

 with small shell-snails, some whole, and many ground to pieces 

 through the attrition which is occasioned by the muscular force 

 and motion of that intestine. We saw no gravels among the 

 food : perhaps the shell-snails might perform the functions of 

 gravels or pebbles, and might grind one another. Land-rails 

 used to abound formerly, I remember, in the low, wet bean-fields 

 of Christian Malford in North Wilts, and in the meadows near 

 Paradise Gardens at Oxford, where I have often heard them cry 

 crex y crex. The bird mentioned above weighed 7J oz., was fat 

 and tender, and in flavour like the flesh of a woodcock. The 

 liver was very large and delicate. 



FOOD OF THE RING-DOVE. 



One of my neighbours shot a ring-dove on an evening as it 

 was returning from feed and going to roost. When his wife had 

 picked and drawn it, she found its craw stuffed with the most 

 nice and tender tops of turnips. These she washed and boiled, 

 and so sat down to a choice and delicate plate of greens, culled 

 and provided in this extraordinary manner. 



Hence we may see that graminivorous birds, when grain fails, 

 can subsist on the leaves of vegetables. There is reason to 

 suppose that they would not long be healthy without ; for turkies, 

 though corn-fed, delight in a variety of plants, such as cabbage, 

 lettuce, endive, &c. and poultry pick much grass ; while geese 

 live for months together on commons by grazing alone. 



' Nought is useless made ; 



' On the barren heath 



' The shepherd tends his flock that daily crop 



' Their verdant dinner from the mossy turf 



' Sufficient : after them the cackling goose, 



' Close-grazer, finds wherewith to ease her want." 



PHILIPS'S CYDER. 





